From College to the Patriots: Laurence Maroney Unplugged.

College, and I was getting so much love in college, and as long as I was on campus, so much stuff was free. You know, I'm saying a lot of people around because of the great things I was doing, they was real big supporters. So it was like, at that point, I didn't even need money in college, you know, so I wasn't in the rush to go into the real world.

Do you, like, do you go out and get an agent? Do people start coming at you? How does that work?

Yeah, so, you know, for me, it works different for everybody. But I, I think I had a nice little name for myself, built a nice brand for myself. And you, you know, you just start seeing agents pop up at games and hey, you know, if you want to come out, we want to represent you. And like I say, it wasn't even me coming out, wasn't even a thought in my mind because the previous year, my running teammate, Marion Barbara, rest in peace to my brother, he. He left and we had. We basically was doing identical numbers as far as rushing. And he went in the fourth round and it was like, well, what makes me better than him? You know? So it was. I definitely was in no rush to go because I was really nervous because it was just like, I just watched my brother that I know he's great going to fourth round. And we have literally identical numbers. And it's like, yeah, I don't know. I don't know. And then like I say, when the bowl game happened and just, just that whole, My whole junior year, it was just a lot of off on the field, behind the scenes stuff. That was frustrating. So when the camera asked me, it was really just a, Just a sporadic answer. Yeah, I'm leaving. And it wouldn't even like, you know, because it's like I, I felt like I was put in the hot seat. I wouldn't even, it wasn't even no thought. I wasn't even quite sure if I wanted to leave, but it was like I put it out there in the air now. And so it was like at that point, we just got to roll with the punches. And so a lot of agents was definitely coming to the games and wanted to represent me and had to go through that process. And so it turned out great for me. But it was sporadic, though.

So walk me through. Like, did you. When did you know you were going to go? Like, you get the call? Like, how does that work in the draft?

Oh, man. So throughout, throughout the training process. When I was going through the training process, I remember Mel Kuiper had me going 30th to Indianapolis late first round. And so I figured I was going in the first round, and I was like, late first round. I don't even know that many backs better than me, but hey. And so I remember on draft day, I was at Herb Hoover Boys and Girls Club, the Boys and Girls club I attended in St. Louis when I was growing up. I remember I was in the gym, the draft started, and I think, like, the first four or five picks, I said in front of the tv, all right, my name ain't getting called. I'm not trying to be one of them people just staring at the tv and then day one go by if my name not called. So I decided to start playing basketball. So I go in there and start playing basketball. I gave my phone to somebody else, and I wasn't even watching the draft no more. It was like, it's gonna be what it's gonna be because it's out of my control at this point, right? I remember somebody just bringing me my phone, and I was like, who is they? Like, I don't know, somebody asking for you. So I pick up the phone and what's funny, it was Bill Belichick. I was like. He was like, yeah, this is Bill Belichick with the New England Patriots. We're on the clock. We have the 21st pick. We're considering picking you, but hold on. I'm like, hold on. And so I think, you know, that two minute hold on at that time, to me, felt like 10, 15 minutes, right? Me, I felt like he had me on hold for too long to where it's like, man, I should hang up, but I'm not. And I remember he get back on the phone and he was like, yeah, we're going to take you with the 21st pick. And so I'm hearing it, and it does. It's not even registered or sitting in right now, but I'm walking back to the front where everybody's at. They're sitting in front of the tv. And so I'm hearing them on the phone, say, yeah, we're going to take you. And he was like, how do you feel about being a Patriot? I was like, man, it feels great. He was like, well, congratulations. Then Kraft gets on the phone, say a few things, Belly Shack. Get back in and start breaking down the do's and don'ts of their program. And I'm like, wow. And so I'm still on the phone, and then I sit down in the chair, and the commissioner comes out with the 21st pick. New England Patriots takes Lawrence Maroney, and I'm talking about the whole place erupts. And I think once I actually heard it on the tv, that's when realization kicked in. Like, wow, it's happening, right? Dreams. Dreams coming true is happening. Was it.

Was it an absolute culture shock? I mean, like, your life changed overnight, right?

It did, technically, but not overnight. You know, I think I didn't even get my first check until almost training camp, so. But the. The thought of your life changing overnight. Yeah, it did. And. But as far as the money, it didn't come yet.